Ditching-machine



(No Model.)

. R. H. NOGAR.

DITOHING MACHINE.

No. 296,599. Patented Apr. 8, 1884.

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NiTnD STATES FFICEQ PATEN'r DITCHIN-G-MACHITNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,599, dated April 8, 1884:.

Application filed.Deccmber 26, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, RUSSELL H. Nouns, of Dundee, in the county of Monroe and Stateof Michigan, have invented new and useful Improveinents in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of ditchingmachincs especially adapted to prepare the necessary ditches to receive the drainplpe.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction, combination, and operation of its various parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

The object of my present invention is to improve the machine for a similar purpose as patented to me September 4., 1883, in Patent No. 284,320, by making that machine more effective and adapted to be more useful.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssection on the inner face. Fig. 3 is a like view through one of the eccentrics which controls the position of the cleaner or scraper.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents the bed or floor, at each end of which are pivotally secured by suitable king-bolts the axles B, which are provided with the usual tractionwheels. A bolster, H, is secured rigidly to the top of the bed, between thebottom of each axle and the bed, and the ends of these bolsters project beyond the sides of the bed. A cam-lever, G, is provided near each corner of the bed, to engage with a link, I, which is provided for each cam-lever, such links being adapted to embrace the axles and the project- .ing ends of the bolsters, and by the strain,

brought to bear upon them by the cams lock the axles in position at right angles to the bed when desired. Each of the axles is provided with hounds J, or other suitable means for the time being is detachably left free to work I the cut of the latter.

upon its king-bolt, in order to allow the line of travel to be changed.

D is a vertical rectangular frame, consisting of -four uprights secured to the bed A,'and E is a sash having a vertically -reciprocating movement, which is governed and controlled in its reciprocation by means of a rack and pinion, K.

A cutting-wheel, F, is suitably journaled in the sash near its lower end, and an aperture or slot in the bed allows this wheel to be ele vated or lowered. This cutting-wheel F is constructed of two outer and one central disk, all of the same diameter and secured upon the same shaft. Between these disks there are plates L, which preserve the proper distances between the disks, and at the same time govern the, depth of the earth to be taken out. The disks all have cutting-edges, that of the center one being bad by making both sides beveling, and the outer disks being made by beveling only their inner faces, leaving their outer faces upon a vertical plane.

R represents two winged plates provided with rigid tongues M, which, when in operation, project between the disks and. outside thereof, to detach the earth therefrom, the interior fingers turning downward slightly at their ends until they rest upon the edges of the plates which separate the disks, and strip the earth therefrom and conduct the same to either side to the wings of the plates R, which are somewhat in the shape of a double moldboard, which guide the same to opposite sides of the machine. Th ere are two of these winged plates, although but one of them is to be em ployed at a time, the one so employed being indicated by the direction in which the machine is traveling. One of these winged plates is pivotally hung or secured to each of the outer ends of the frame G, which is centrally secured to the sash E, so as at all times to keep the plates in the same relative position with the cutting-wheel. The cams N-one for each of the cleaning-plates-are provided,by means of which either of the plates is thrown up and out of engagement with the cuttingwheel, and by their proper use the depth of the cut of the cutting-wheel may be regulated as fol lows: The size of the intermediate plates between the cutting-disks governs the depth of Now, if it is desired to limit this cut, the cleaning-plate may be so regulated by the cams or other analogous devices that the fingers will clear but a portion of the. dirt from the face of the intermediate plates. The balance clinging to the periphery of said intermediate plates practically enlarges their diameter, and thereby reduces the depth of the cut of the cutting-disks.

P is a lever pivoted to the side of the bed, so as to have a short arm project below the pivotal point. To the free end of this short arm is pivotally secured the rod 0, the opposite end of which is detachably secured to one of the axles, and at an equal distance above the pivotal point of connection with the bed there is a similar rod, Q, pivoted, the opposite end of which is similarly secured to the other axle, all arranged so that the movement of the longer arm of the lever, which is brought Within easy reach of the operator, will control the relative positions of the axles when they are not locked in position by the locking devices hereinbefore described.

It is evident from what has been said that when both the .axles are free or unlocked the lever may be used to operate the same simultaneously through its connections; but when one of the axles only is locked, the lever acts only on the free one, as it is disconnected from the locked axle.

In regard to the manner of locking and unlocking the axle to and from the bolster, it will be noticed that the link I is n shaped, and each leg is provided with an eye at its end, which is designed to slip over the ends of a rod, 1, which projects from the sides of the bolster H, said rod having a notch on its under side to prevent the legs of the link from slipping when the axle is locked.

While I have shown and described the links I as having their legs provided with eyes, it is obvious that the legs may have their ends bent inward toward each other, nearly at right angles to the sides of the link,without departing from the spirit of my invention, said hooks being designed to engage with and be sprung into openings in either the sides of the bolster or cams O.

The above-described connections readily admit the adjusting of the locking-links in place to secure the axle in a fixed position, or permit of their being easilyand quickly removed, whereby the axles are free to turn on their bolts, as hereinbefore described.

, WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in a truck for a ditching-machine, of the front and rear axles secured to the bed, each by a proper king-bolt, with locking-cams for locking said axles in position, said axles being each 'providedwith suitable hounds, or other known appliances for securing a tongue thereto, whereby the device may be run in either direction, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a ditching-machine, a cutting-wheel, constructed as described, journaled in the lower end of a sash, having avertically-reciprocating movement within a frame, in combination with cleaning devices or plates, constructed substantially as described, and adapted to clear the earth from the cutting-wheel in advance of its out in either direction, whereby the depth of the cut may be regulated, substantially as specified.

3. In a ditching-machine, and in combination with the cutting-wheel journaled in the lower end of a' sash, such sash being provided with means for elevating or lowering the same, aframe secured longitudinally to said sash; and pivotally carrying at each end thereof cleaners, constructed substantially as described, and the cams N, arranged to throw such cleaners alternately into or out of action, as circumstances may require, substantially as set forth.

4. In a ditching-machine, and in combination with the bed and axles thereof, each of said axles being pivotally secured one at each end of said bed, a lever centrally pivoted to said bed and suitably connected with each of said axles, substantially as and for the pur poses described.

5. As an improved lock in ditching-machines, constructed to embrace and bind together both the axle and bolster thereof, the U-shaped link I and earn 0, constructed substantially as described.

.6. A ditching-machine consisting of the bed A, to which are pivotally secured the axles B, locking devices 0, by which such axles are secured as required, frame D, centrally supported upon the bed A, sash E, to which is journaled the cutting-wheel F, with means for elevating or lowering said sash, frame G, secured to said sash, and carrying upon its end the fingered cleaners H, provided with means for being alternately thrown out of action, the parts being arranged, constructed, combined, and operating substantially as and for .the purposes described.

RUSSELL H. NOGAR.

\Vitncsses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. ScULLY. 

